Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.8
3.9
Journals
Sensors
Special Issues
Sensors for Performance Analysis in Team Sports
sensors-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sensors Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Sensors for Performance Analysis in Team Sports

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 9375

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bruno Emanuel Nogueira Figueira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Evora, Portugal
Interests: performance analysis in team sports; internal and external load
Dr. Diogo Alexandre Martins Coutinho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sports Sciences, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: performance analysis in team sports; decision-making; movement variability; youth training intervention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Bruno Gonçalves

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Interests: sports science; sport performance; sport training; elite sport; physical education; complex system; collective behaviour

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, performance analysis in team sports has focused on a quest for reliable information that will help to optimise the training process and ultimately the competitive outcome. With this in mind, technology has been used to monitor and control the physical and physiological demands of players in both training and competition. Similarly, players’ technical actions and movement patterns have been analysed to provide a holistic perspective of performance. However, technological development is an ongoing and systematic process that produces new sensors almost daily to collect data, advanced metrics to analyse the information, and powerful visualisation techniques to display the information. This results in a huge untapped potential for improving sports performance. This Special Issue will offer a review of the existing literature, focusing on studies that address the use of sensors to measure team sport performance and the influence of lifestyle habits on player performance.

All types of studies will be considered, including original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, validation studies, and conceptual articles.

Potential topics to be covered include:

  • Tracking of player movement patterns (e.g., sensors that track player position in both training and competition);
  • Analysis of technical and tactical behaviour in team sports using sensors (e.g., approaches for tracking and interpreting player performance);
  • Sensors that enable tracking of physical and physiological performance in team sports (e.g., systems that track players’ external and internal load);
  • Wearable sensors that capture health-related variables (e.g., heart rate, blood, sweat, and interstitial fluid);
  • Biomechanical sensors that analyse movement in team sports (e.g., motion analysis);
  • Original studies using sensors to compare player behaviour in team sports (e.g., use of sensors to compare player performance under different conditions during training or competition); 
  • Validation studies investigating new sensors for performance analysis (e.g., validation of systems for recording player behaviour); 
  • Statements and reviews synthesising expert knowledge (e.g., conceptual papers, systematic reviews).

Dr. Bruno Emanuel Nogueira Figueira
Dr. Diogo Alexandre Martins Coutinho
Dr. Bruno Gonçalves
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • technical and tactical behaviour
  • physical and physiological analysis
  • movement patterns
  • talent identification technology
  • training and game monitoring
  • wearable sensors
  • motion analysis
  • motion tracking
  • sensor validation

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 1100 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Determinants of Sprinting and Change of Direction in Elite Female Field Hockey Players
by Alejandro Bustamante-Garrido, Mikel Izquierdo, Bianca Miarka, Ariel Cuartero-Navarrete, Jorge Pérez-Contreras, Esteban Aedo-Muñoz and Hugo Cerda-Kohler
Sensors 2023, 23(18), 7663; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23187663 - 05 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1640
Abstract
Profile determination in field hockey is critical to determining athletes’ physical strengths and weaknesses, and is key in planning, programming, and monitoring training. This study pursued two primary objectives: (i) to provide descriptive data on sprinting, deceleration, and change of direction (COD) abilities [...] Read more.
Profile determination in field hockey is critical to determining athletes’ physical strengths and weaknesses, and is key in planning, programming, and monitoring training. This study pursued two primary objectives: (i) to provide descriptive data on sprinting, deceleration, and change of direction (COD) abilities and (ii) to elucidate the mechanical variables that influence sprint and COD performance in elite female field hockey players. Using radar and time-gate technology, we assessed performance and mechanical data from 30 m sprinting, deceleration, and COD tests for 26 elite female hockey players. A machine learning approach identified mechanical variables related to sprint and COD performance. Our findings offer a framework for athlete categorization and the design of performance-enhancing training strategies at the international level. Two pivotal mechanical variables—relative maximum horizontal force (F0) and maximum velocity (Vmax)—predominantly influence the times across all tested distances. However, the force–velocity profile (FVP) and horizontal deceleration do not influence the variance in the COD test outcomes. These insights can guide the design, adjustment, and monitoring of training programs, assisting coaches in decision making to optimize performance and mitigate injury risks for female hockey players. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Performance Analysis in Team Sports)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1983 KiB  
Communication
Reliability of Maximal Strength and Peak Rate of Force Development in a Portable Nordic Hamstrings Exercise Device
by Júlio A. Costa, Konstantinos Spyrou, António Sancho, Joana F. Reis and João Brito
Sensors 2023, 23(12), 5452; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23125452 - 09 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1467
Abstract
The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is a very popular exercise used to improve eccentric strength and prevent injuries. The aim of this investigation was to assess the reliability of a portable dynamometer that measures maximal strength (MS) and rate of force development (RFD) [...] Read more.
The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is a very popular exercise used to improve eccentric strength and prevent injuries. The aim of this investigation was to assess the reliability of a portable dynamometer that measures maximal strength (MS) and rate of force development (RFD) during the NHE. Seventeen physically active participants (34.8 ± 4.1 years; n = 2 women and n = 15 men) participated. Measurements occurred on two different days separated by 48–72 h. Test–retest reliability was calculated for bilateral MS and RFD. No significant test–retest differences were observed in NHE (test–retest [95% CI, confidence interval]) for MS [−19.2 N (−67.8; 29.4); p = 0.42] and RFD [−70.4 N·s−1 (−178.4; 37.8); p = 0.19]. MS showed high reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] [95% CI], =0.93 [0.80–0.97] and large within-subject correlation between test and retest [r = 0.88 (0.68; 0.95)]. RFD displayed good reliability [ICC = 0.76 (0.35; 0.91)] and moderate within-subject correlation between test and retest [r = 0.63 (0.22; 0.85)]. Bilateral MS and RFD displayed a coefficient of variation of 3.4% and 4.6%, respectively, between tests. The standard error of measurement and the minimal detectable change for MS was 44.6 arbitrary units (a.u.) and 123.6 a.u., and 104.6 a.u. and 290.0 a.u. for peak RFD. This study shows that MS and RFD can be measured for NHE using a portable dynamometer. However, not all exercises are suitable to apply to determine RFD, so caution must be taken when analyzing RFD during NHE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Performance Analysis in Team Sports)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 845 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Repeated Sprint Ability, Countermovement Jump and Thermography in Elite Football Players
by Carlos Majano, Jorge García-Unanue, Antonio Hernandez-Martin, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, Leonor Gallardo and Jose Luis Felipe
Sensors 2023, 23(2), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23020631 - 05 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2815
Abstract
Football is a very demanding sport which requires players to exert maximum effort, producing fatigue and eventually injuries. Thermography can be used to detect fatigue and prevent its consequences through thermal asymmetries in the bilateral body areas; however, its adequacy for elite footballers [...] Read more.
Football is a very demanding sport which requires players to exert maximum effort, producing fatigue and eventually injuries. Thermography can be used to detect fatigue and prevent its consequences through thermal asymmetries in the bilateral body areas; however, its adequacy for elite footballers has not been widely studied. Therefore, the objective of the present investigation was to determine the suitability of thermography to detect fatigue in male football players. For this reason, twenty participants were gathered into a pair of subgroups (low [<0.2 °C] vs. high thermal asymmetry [≥0.2 °C]) based on a thermography session of the lower limbs (thighs, calves, and hamstrings). After the thermography session, players performed CMJs before and after an RSA test (6 × 30 m/20″). A mixed two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc pairwise comparisons were undertaken to analyse the results. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in any of the RSA test variables between low and high thermal asymmetry groups for thighs and calves. On the other hand, the low thermal asymmetry hamstring group reported a smaller percentage difference in sprints for the first sprint (%Diff) and a larger percentage difference in sprints two and three with respect to the best sprint (%Best). For CMJs, the low thermal asymmetry hamstring group reported significantly higher values post-RSA test, indicating better performance. Accordingly, thermography can provide information about performance in CMJ and RSA tests through hamstring asymmetries over 0.2 °C. Meanwhile, larger asymmetries than 0.2 °C in calves and thighs do not seem to be related to performance in these tests; therefore, coaches should consider if it is optimal to align players with high hamstring asymmetries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Performance Analysis in Team Sports)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 735 KiB  
Article
From Optical Tracking to Tactical Performance via Voronoi Diagrams: Team Formation and Players’ Roles Constrain Interpersonal Linkages in High-Level Football
by Nelson Caldeira, Rui J. Lopes, Dinis Fernandes and Duarte Araujo
Sensors 2023, 23(1), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23010273 - 27 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2388
Abstract
Football performance behaviour relies on the individual and collective perceptual attunement to the opportunities for action (affordances) available in a given competitive environment. Such perception–action coupling is constrained by players’ spatial dominance. Aiming to understand the influence of team formation and players’ roles [...] Read more.
Football performance behaviour relies on the individual and collective perceptual attunement to the opportunities for action (affordances) available in a given competitive environment. Such perception–action coupling is constrained by players’ spatial dominance. Aiming to understand the influence of team formation and players’ roles in their dynamic interaction (interpersonal linkages), Voronoi diagrams were used to assess the differences in players’ spatial dominance resulting from their interactions according to ball-possession status in high-performance football. Notational (i.e., team formation, players’ role, and ball-possession status) and positional data (from optical sensors) from ten matches of the men’s French main football league were analysed. Voronoi diagrams were computed from players’ positional data for both teams. Probability density functions of the players’ Voronoi cell areas were then computed and compared, using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, for the different variables (i.e., team formation, player role, and ball-possession status) and their classes. For these variables, the players’ Voronoi cell areas presented statistical differences, which were sensitive to team formation classes (i.e., defenders, midfielders, and forwards) and relative pitch location (interior or exterior in the effective play space). Differences were also found between players with similar roles when in different team formations. Our results showed that team formation and players’ roles constrain their interpersonal linkages, resulting in different spatial dominance patterns. Using positional data captured by optical sensors, Voronoi diagrams can be computed into compound variables, which are meaningful for understanding the match and thus offer information to the design representative training tasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Performance Analysis in Team Sports)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop